Valve stem



Feb. 6, 1949. y J, C ROWLEY 2,189,485

l fvALvE STEM Filed sept. 21. 1938 INVENTOR. Ja/m dem/16) A TTORNEYS mented Feb. c, 1940 PATENT OFFICE VALVE STEM John C. Crowley, Cleveland Heights, (lhio, assignor to The Dill Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 21, 1938, Serial No. 231,018

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a valve stem and particularly to a valve stem especially adapted for use with pneumatic tire -tubes of the dual or double type.

l In pneumatic tire tubes of the dual 4type there is an outer tube member and an inner tube member arranged within the outer member and of course of smaller lsize than the outer member. The purpose of this arrangement is that in the event of the outer tube member blowing out or being punctu'ed the inflated inner tube member will act to support the vehicle upon which the dual tube is mounted'sufiiciently long to prevent the vehicle getting out` of control and to enable the operator to bring the vehicle to a stop.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved valve stem for use with' inflatable tire tubes of the dual type and which is so constructed that both the inner and outer tube members can be 'inflated simultaneouslythrough the same valve stem, but in the event `of rapid deiiation of the outer tube member through puncture or blowing out the air will be retained in the inner tube member or will only escape therefrom extremely slowly, thus providing a sufficient interval of time for the operator of the vehicle to bring the same to a stop and thus prevent accidents. t,

A further object is to provide a valve stem of the character above specified, which is simple in construction and eilicient in operation.

Further and additional objects and advantages not hereinbefore referred to will become apparent hereinafter during the detailed description which is to follow of an embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawing illustrating said embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale through the valve stem and through a portion of the dual tube and shows the relationship of the parts when the valve insides or core of the stem is in closed position.

Fig. 2 isa transverse sectional view taken sube stantially on line 2--2 of Fig. direction of the arrows. Y

Fig. 3 is a view similar to- Fig. 1 but showing the position of the parts when the valve insides or core is open, andy Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View taken substantially on line 4 4 of Fig. 3 looking in tle direction of the arrows.

The' valve stem of the present invention comprises a tubular exteriorly threaded portion I0, at the upper end of which is a reduced exteriorly 1 looking in the and interiorly threadednipple II for receiving a valve cap, air chuck or other similar .fitting and enabling a valve insides or core to be` screwed into position in the stem. The inner end of the threaded portion l of the stem terminates in a smooth cylindrical portion I2 at the inner end of which is an enlarged portion I3 providing a shoulder I 4. At the inner end of the enlarged cylindrical portion I3 the valve stem is shown in the form of a double conical ange I5, while intermediate said flange I5 and the extreme inner end of the stemthere is a relatively large annular flat flange I6. lThe valve stem in this instance is illustrated as having a rubber base, although it will be understood that the stem could be pro--f vided with a metal base and clamped to the inner f tube member if such were desirable.

' The rubber base I1 is ofA the usual conical formation and is molded on the inner end of the stem so as to have the large flange I6 embedded therein while its outer surface 'is substantially flush with the outer conical surface of the double conical flange I5, as clearly shown in the drawing, while its inner flat surface preferably is located a short distance outwardly of the inner end of the stem.

The inner tube member of the dual or double tube is indicated at I8, and the stem is positioned on said member with its inner end xtending'into an opening I9 formed inthe inner tube member.

The vouter tube member indicated at 2I is arranged with the Yvalve stem extending through an opening therein and with the collar 20 engaging the inner side of said member. .Amovable clamping plate or collar 22 is mounted on the valve stem and engages the outer side of the outer tube member 2l and is held 'against turning movement relative to the stem by means of diametrically opposite longitudinally. extending flats, formed on the threaded portion 'III of tle valve stem but not shown since they are well known in the art. One or more clamping nuts 23 are screwed down on the threaded portion I0 ,V50

The .valve stem adjacent its outer end is provided with a bore indicated at 24, and shaped as is customary in valve stems to receive the usual valve insides or core indicated generally at 28 and which has a threadedportion screwing in to the interiorly threaded nipple The valve proper 25a of the valve insides or core extends into an enlarged portion 26 of the internal bore of the stem and the lower end of the valve is adapted .to engage the upper end of a plunger rod 21 when the valve is opened and acts to depress.n

said plunger rod inwardly of the valve stem in the manner later to become more apparent.

'Ihe plunger rod 21 has a loose ilt in a bore portion 28 of the stem and its lower end, i-n this instance, is integrally connected with an enlarged plunger or valve member 29 that is mounted in an enlarged portion 38` of'the' bore through the valve stem. The inner end of the valve member 29 hasan enlarged cylindrical portion 3| which slidably ilts the bore -portion 30, it being noted thatabove the cylindrical portion 3| there is a clearance between the Wall of the bore portion 30 'and the v,valve member 29. 'I'he valve member 29 ldjacent its outer or upper end as viewed in the-drawing, is provided with a radially extending passage 32 which communicates with the space between the valve member and the bore portion 3| and with a short recess or bore 33 formed in the valve member 29. The recess or bore 33 communicates with an enlarged counterbore 34 that extends from the bore or recess 33 to the lower or inner end of the valve member 29 and serves to house a coil spring 35 which has one end abutting against the shoulder at the upper end of the counterbore 3l and its opposite end abutting against an abutment plug 36 arranged in the lower end of the valve stem 'preferably by having a forced fit therein. The

abutment plug 36 is provided with a centrally disposed opening or bore 31 placing the interior of the inner tube member |8 in communication with the interior of the valve stem.

In Fig. l the valve insides or core is shown as closed, and it will be presumed that lboth the innr and outer tube members of the d-ual tube are inated. When the valve insides orv core is closed the coil spring 35 urges the valve mem-- ber 29 and plunger pin 21 upwardly until the upperend of the valve member abuts the shoulder at the upper end of the counterbore 38. At this time it will be noted that the enlarged cylindrical portion 3| of the valve member 29 closes the inner end of a radially extending port or passage 38 formed in the cylindrical portion |3 of the valve stemA and in communication with the interior of the outerv tube member 2|. this time, of course, the air in both the inner and outer tube members cannot escape since the valve insides or core is closed.

Assuming that it is desired to further inilate the dual tube and that an air chuck or other air line connection has been applied to the nipple l causes the enlarged cylindrical portion 3| oi the valve stem and to place the interior of the outer tube member 2| into communication with the space between the valve member 2l and the wall of the enlarged bore portion 33. At the same time the interior of the inner tube member I8 is in communication through the opening or bore 31 in the plug 33, the counterbore 3l, bore 33 and port or passage 32 in the valve member with the space between the valve member and the wall of the bore portion 30 of the valve stem.

It will be apparent that air entering through the valve insides or core is iree to ow into both the inner and outer tube members and conversely, if it is desired to deflate these members the air may flow outwardly therefrom through the valve stem.

From the foregoing it will have been seen that both the inner and outer tube members can be inated or deflated simultaneously through one and the same valve stem.

Assuming that the inner and o'uter tube members are inflated and are mounted upon the wheel of a motor vehicle, the parts of the valvestemwill be in theposition'indicated in Fig. l. Eurther as suming that the outer tube member 2| .is punctured on blows out and the air is released therefrom while the inner tube member |8remains airtight, it will be understood that the air inthe inner tube member |8 cannot immediately rush into the outer tube'meinber and thence to atmosphere, since the enlarged cylindrical portion 3| which has a sliding fit in the bore portion 3l of the valve stem is at this time covering the innter end of the passage or opening 33 in the valve s em.

While there may be some seepage of air from the inner tube member around the portion 3| o f the valve member 29 and thence through the o'vpening or port 38 into the outer tube member and to atmosphere, it will be appreciated that such seepage will be extremely slow and any deflation of the inner tube member I3 will be so gradual as to allow suicient time for the operator to bring the vehicle to a stop.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it will be understood that the invention is susceptible of various modifications and adaptations within the scope of the appended claims.

HavingV thus described my invention I claim:

1. A valve stem for dual or double tire tubes of the type having inner and outer tube members and comprising a stem proper secured to both tube members and provided with a bore therethrough, means placing' said bore in communication with both tube members. valve means for sealing said bore outwardly of the first named means, and means in said bore automatically operating when said valve means is closed to interrupt the communication between said bore and said outer tube member.

2. A valve stem for dual or double tire tubes of the type having inner and outer tube members comprising a stem proper secured to both tube members and provided with a bore therethrough,

means placing said bore in communication with both tube members, valve means for sealing said bore outwardly of the rst named means, and` rupting the communication between said bore and said outer tube member when said valve means is closed.

3. A valve stem for dual or double tire tubes of` the type having inner and outer tube members andcomprising va stem proper secured to both membersand having a bore therethrough communicating at its inner end with said inner member, said stem proper being provided with a port placing said outer member in communication .with said bore',` valve means in said stem outwardly of said port for sealing said bore, and means' in said bore operatively controlled by the movement vof said valve means for closing said port when said valve means is closed.

4. A valve stem for dual or double tire tubes of the typehaving inner and outer tube members and comprising a stem proper secured to bothmembers and having a bore therethrough communicating at -its inner end with said inner member, said stem proper being provided with a port placing said outer member in communication with said bore, valve means in said stem outwardly of said port for sealing said bore, and a spring pressed plunger in said bore operatively controlled by the movement of said valve means and provided with a portion for closing said port l0 when said valve means is closed.

. JOI-IN C'. CROWLEY. 

